Monday, January 25, 2010

Received this through an email circulated by the Buddhist community in Penang, Malaysia.

"Dear devotees actually I never thought I would have the chance to see and talk to you , half of my body is dead, but my heart , my mind still has energy .

What is this diseased body , is it life? Its not life , its the house , life is the energy , mental , kammic and cosmic all joined together as "energy ", that is life .

Body is decayed and life goes away . Actually we must be happy when time comes to depart without suffering , to crave so much for the body , we spend our whole life decorating , looking after it , one day it decays and when energy and the elements dissipate then mental energy will build another house . Life started with mental energy and then birth occurs . Every single child cries , none smiles after birth . Life is suffering we are using whole amounts of energy to maintain this physical body , but one day we have to depart .Then leaves solidity and fluidity ~ 2 elements only , heat and motion has gone .

Christians and Muslims are particular about the body as they believe in resurrection , we do not believe that there is anything in this physical body . Spend thousands on funerals , but the departed never get anything. Only way to support the departed , you must know how to make use of this life , that is why religion is needed to help us to cultivate compassion , sympathy and kindness and supporting others .

David Morris sent me a letter , he said there are 2 reasons to be happy as an old man ,

(1) he will be free from pain and suffering .

(2) Ever since he became a Buddhist he has tried his best to maintain and uphold the 5 precepts , if there is another life it won't be an unfortunate one as he departs with confidence .

In the end the dying man takes no solace in dancing and singing , only meritorious deeds will you get confidence and this will support the karmic energy in the rebirth . Must know how to handle life , by doing service to others to help release their suffering . Many die with fear and confusion in mind , can't take rebirth in upper realm.

Meditation is important to maintain purity .

Prince Siddharta when he was born there were 5 astrologers invited to predict his fate, 4 said that he would either grow up to be a sage or monarch . Last one said definitely a sage . When craving and attachment is completely removed , mind is then completely pure .This body is not life . Its a house built by energy and 4 cosmic elements. Unfortunately in the past 2500 years , Buddhists in Asia have introduced a lot of rites and rituals, never introduced by the Buddha. Just keep away from evil by reducing anger, jealousy enmity , try to do meritorious deeds, try to develop the mind through understanding. Try to purify the mind .

If you are cruel, hot tempered or stingy try your best to take this out . If you pray to God to take this out do you think God can do that? Buddha can't also , but he can tell you how to do that . War is declared by the human mind, peace also comes from our minds , not from heaven nor from God .

First by understanding without believing , when you develop a right understanding , then you can carry on a religious way of life . When you doubt , you think, investigate, accept or reject. Others say if there is doubt, then God will punish you .

All over the world different schools have sprung up and they follow their own traditions which they have maintained for a long time . Buddha had rejected old traditions , but it was introduced to the primitive narrow minded people . People in Asian countries don't study the dharma .

Next, do Good . Reduce the anger and do something to train the mind through right understanding . Change the mind , through your own experience you can understand right and wrong .

I have been in Malaysia for 53 years , used to have even no room to sleep. The Chinese were the main Buddhists here and through Buddhist societies we made them understand what Buddhism is .

My mind mental and life energy is still active but I am half way dead , you must know how to do this .

Although the end of my life is now near , I have no fear .

Arahants can disconnect mind from body to experience nibbanic bliss and at that time you cannot tell if they are dead or alive , their bodies are still warm and their complexions will remain ruddy . They can do that for 1 week at the most .

Remember there are 4 kinds of happiness :

(1) Happiness of Possession - In owing your own property , your house , land , business , bank account.

(2) Happiness of Enjoyment - Using what you have earned you can enjoy good food , nice house,nice dress without abusing, bluffing, cheating others.

(3) Happiness of Debtlessness - Try best not to borrow from others , spend within your own means , you gain self respect .

(4) Happiness of Blamelessness - Try to lead life without doing harm to anybody .

These 4 kinds of happiness must be with you . Don't be lazy do some work , do not neglect what you have earned, maintain and protect what you have earned , then you can decide what to do including adopting a Buddhist way of life up to arahant , know how to adjust your way of life , how to associate with others , who are they ?Associate with good people ,not harmful wicked people.

Support your faither and mother ,look after your wife and children, don't neglect relatives, help them. Develop your mind to the extent that you are not shaken by the 8 winds of change:

praise

blame

fame

shame

gain

loss

pleasure

pain

and treat all the same , then at this stage nothing will affect you ."

Quotes:

All meetings end in partings.

That which rises must fall

That which is collected will be dispersed

Birth ends with death

"It is easy enough to be pleasant when life flows by like a song. But the man worthwhile is one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong."

---Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Sabbe dhamma nalam abhinivesaya

All phenomena should NOT be clung to as "I", "My" or "Mine".

Sorry bout the grammar mistakes and the paragraphings, didn't edit much, maintained the original post.

On a side note, though the concept of God, Christianity and Muslim faiths have been brought up in this article, there is no intention of offending nor putting down other faiths. I believe generally the practice of respecting each other, regardless of perspective differences, race and religion, should be cultivated by everyone.